ARC Review: The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt

The More the Terrier
Author: David Rosenfelt
Series: Andy Carpenter (Book 30)
Publication: Minotaur Books (October 15, 2024)

Description: The next installment in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling Andy Carpenter series brings a lone pup to his doorstep, but when it comes to dogs, The More the Terrier.

Reluctant lawyer Andy Carpenter is relieved to be headed back to Paterson, New Jersey, after a week-long family vacation in the Adirondacks. He's ready to put the holly jolly season way behind him and settle in at home with his three dogs. But when they finally arrive, there is an extra dog eagerly awaiting them, as well as one anxious dog sitter.

When the dog showed up on the doorstep a few days ago, the sitter knew Andy would know what to do. Indeed, Andy recognizes Murphy, who the Carpenters fostered before the dog went home with BJ Bremer and his mother. BJ wanted to learn all he could about caring for Murphy, which made Andy like him immediately.

When Andy goes to take Murphy back to the Bremers, though, instead of the happy reunion he expects, he finds BJ's mother in tears. It turns out Murphy ran off…after BJ was arrested for murder. Andy had hoped for a quiet Christmas vacation, but he likes Murphy’s family and his golden retriever, Tara, likes Murphy, so he can't resist getting involved. The case isn’t as simple as Andy thought it would be, though, with BJ suspected of murdering one of his professors. With nothing to go on but Andy's own conviction in BJ's dog-loving character, proving his innocence would be a Christmas miracle.

With equal doses of doggy humor and courtroom drama, as well as Andy Carpenter's traditional humbug Christmas spirit, David Rosenfelt delivers another winner.

My Thoughts: The story begins with the Carpenters back from a fun vacation in the Adirondacks. Andy is eager to see their three dogs. However, when he gets home, there are four dogs waiting. The extra dog is a terrier mix named Murphy that Andy's foundation placed with Doris and BJ Bremer.

When Andy brings Murphy back home, he learns that college-freshman BJ has been arrested for the murder of a professor that he had argued with. After Andy talks to BJ and meets his lawyer who won't say who hired him, he decides to take over the case himself. 

BJ proclaims his innocence and states that he was called to appear at the professor's house and found him dead. He can't explain why the professor's watch and $600 were found in his apartment. To Andy, it looks like a frame job. 

Andy calls in the team to investigate and soon discovers that the computer science professor had discovered a new computer virus which was of strong interest to the Russian mob. The professor was also a drug addict. Neither of those things look like a reason to kill him though. 

The professor had also had some problems online in the metaverse. He took down some guys who bullied and assaulted a young woman. There were three who hurt her, but he can only identify two. Since he trashed their computers, they have a strong reason to hurt him and admit that he is on their list. Andy, Laurie and the team do devise a sting to catch them in wrong-doing in the real world, but that doesn't seem to be reason enough for murder. 

This is a hard case for Andy because he's afraid of confusing the jury by giving them too many options of who might have killed the professor other than his client. 

I enjoyed this one. I like Andy and the circle of friends and colleagues he has gathered around himself. I also really enjoy Andy's snarky attitude. 

Favorite Quote:

"That I disagree with. It's not my job to put murderers in jail," I say. "It's my job to get nonmurderers out of jail."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.